Nottingham's population expanded in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, marriage and health.
The population reached nearly 310,000
In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Nottingham increased by 14%, from just under 267,000 to 306,000.
The addition of almost 39,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).
In 2011, Nottingham was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' second-most densely-populated unitary authority.
Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands
Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)
- Rest of the East Midlands
- Nottingham
- Average across England
A younger Nottingham
Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.
Between the last two censuses, the median age of Nottingham decreased by two years, from 32 to 30 years.
This area had the lowest average age in the East Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).
The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 18,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by almost 2,000.
About 23% of people in Nottingham are aged between 20 and 29 years
Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Nottingham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
More people worked short hours
Nottingham saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.
Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.8% to 3.0%.
In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Nottingham said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 10% to 7.0%.
England's largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week occurred in Newham (from 2.3% to 5.9%) followed by Newcastle upon Tyne (from 2.1% to 4.3%).
The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Nottingham increased by 2 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Nottingham, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Ethnicity in Nottingham
The number of people in Nottingham from the White ethnic groups decreased from just under 230,000 in 2001 to about 220,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 85% to 72% of the local population.
The percentage decreased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).
The number of people in Nottingham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 19,000 in 2001 to about 40,000 in 2011 (from 7.1% to 13%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 12,000 to just over 22,000 (from 4.3% to 7.3%).
Just over 20,000 people (3.1%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 8,400 in 2001 (6.6%).
The population from the White ethnic groups in Nottingham decreased by 13 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Nottingham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011
- Rest of the East Midlands
- Nottingham
- Average across England
Disability in Nottingham
The percentage of Nottingham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.5% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.
In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (5.0%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 5.5% in 2001. The percentage of Nottingham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.
The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. The improvement brought health in Nottingham close to the regional average 4.0% in the East Midlands described their health as good in 2011).
The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands
Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
More single people in Nottingham
Nottingham saw the East Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.
In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 and over in Nottingham said they were single, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 36% to 32%.
Across the region, only Lincoln saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 34% to 44%).
Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 28% to 32%.
The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the East Midlands
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Health improved
The percentage of Nottingham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.
Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.
In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Nottingham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 14%.
The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.
These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.
The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Nottingham decreased by 4.6 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in Nottingham, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Religion in Nottingham
The number of people in Nottingham that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 12,000 in 2001 to about 27,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 4.6% to 8.8% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.
The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 1.8% to 3.4%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).
The number of people in Nottingham that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 150,000 in 2001 to about 140,000 in 2011 (from 58% to 44%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 66,000 to just under 110,000 (from 25% to 35%).
Just over 23,000 people (9.8%) did not state their religion, down from just over 26,000 in 2001 (7.6%).
The population who identified as Muslim in Nottingham increased by 4.2 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Nottingham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011
- Rest of the East Midlands
- Nottingham
- Average across England
More students
Nottingham saw the East Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of students.
In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.3%) people aged 16 to 74 in Nottingham said they were in education, compared with 4.0% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 44% to 43%.
Across the region, only Lincoln saw a greater rise in the proportion of students (from 3.7% to 7.0%).
Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of students, as the regional average grew from 2.5% to 3.4%.
The percentage of students in Nottingham increased by 2.3 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Nottingham, the East Midlands and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Changing household dynamics
Nottingham saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.
In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households in Nottingham had only one person, compared with 38% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.7% to 10%.
Across the region, only Leicester saw a greater fall in the proportion of one-person households (from 33% to 30%).
The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the East Midlands
Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Change in unpaid care provision
The percentage of Nottingham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 2.4% between the last two censuses.
The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.
The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.
The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Nottingham remained close to 2.4%
Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Nottingham by care, March 2001 and March 2011
- Rest of the East Midlands
- Nottingham
- Average across England
Rise in private renting
Nottingham saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.
In 2011, just under one in four (23%) households in Nottingham rented privately, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 33% to 30%.
Across the region, only Leicester (from 13% to 23%) and Lincoln (from 11% to 21%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.
Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of privately rented homes, as the regional average grew from 8.5% to 15%.
Private renting in Nottingham increased by 9.1 percentage points
Percentage of households in Nottingham, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Changes in family structure
Nottingham saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.
In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) households in Nottingham had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 7.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 27%.
Across the region, only Oadby and Wigston (from 9.9% to 13%) and Leicester (from 8.6% to 10%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.
During this period, Nottingham fell below Lincoln to become the East Midlands local authority area with the second-lowest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.
The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the East Midlands
Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Area report data
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